Kadima joins call to replace Tal Law before elections

Opposition party joins Yisrael Beytenu in bid to delay Knesset dissolution, seeking to pass alternative to Tal Law, which allows haredim to defer IDF service indefinitely; Kadima: Parties must stop wheeling and dealing.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Haredi man casts ballot elections 390 (R) (photo credit: Gil Cohen Magen / Reuters)
Haredi man casts ballot elections 390 (R)
(photo credit: Gil Cohen Magen / Reuters)
The Kadima party on Sunday joined calls to delay early elections in order to pass alternative legislation to the Tal Law.
"All parties must end the wheeling and dealing; we have here an historic opportunity- first we must fix the Tal Law- then we can go to elections," Kadima said in a statement. The Tal Law allows haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men to indefinitely defer IDF service and was recently invalidated by the High Court of Justice.
Earlier Sunday, Yisrael Beytenu faction chairman Robert Ilatov requested a postponement to the upcoming vote to dissolve the Knesset in order to allow more time for a Yisrael Beytenu Tal Law-alternative to pass. The passing of Elkin's bill would automatically extend the Tal Law, which was set to expire on August 1, for six to eight months.
Just last week, both parties expressed support for early elections. Liberman said Monday that he would like to see elections as soon as possible, adding that going to the polls would be in the interest of the state and giving mid July as his party's preference for a Knesset shakeup.
Referring to his party's responsibility to constituents, Liberman said, "We will make a decision responsibly, which means elections as soon as possible. I wish everyone luck."
Opposition Leader Shaul Mofaz on Monday also said that he too would support early elections, proposing that the date to be set for October 16 in order to give a chance for all political parties to compete. Mofaz added that his party would be ready no matter what date is chosen. Kadima "will be ready for an election challenge at any time, in any month, and in any year," he said.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu plans to officially announce an early election for September 4 late Sunday at the Likud convention in Tel Aviv.
Lahav Harkov contributed to this article